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First year of ownership I probably spent around 1500 dollars, with one big job left (suspension) and after that, just regular maintainance cost.

I think I have spent almost $2000 including tools. Parts cost not too bad though. I love buying tools hahaha. It's like a woman being obsessed with handbags except my handbag lasts 30 years and you can beat someone to death with it and fix ****.

Just a note regarding the Torx bit to get the tensioner loose: Some of those bolts use either a Torx bit or an Allen bit, depends on the car. I think newer cars and all replacement bolts have the Allen (8mm I think?). When I replaced the tensioner bolt recently the replacement (from BMW) was an Allen.

you do not have to remove the fan to do the belts. put the belt down between 2 of the fan blades, hold the belt with one hand and spin the fan with the other. after you make it all the way around once it will be off. repeat in reverse order to put it on.

I don't know why someone would be afraid to "whack" the wrench to get the fan off. It's much easier, fast, and safer for your knuckles.

It will stress the already weak water pump bearing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by //Maxwelljuppercut

you do not have to remove the fan to do the belts. put the belt down between 2 of the fan blades, hold the belt with one hand and spin the fan with the other. after you make it all the way around once it will be off. repeat in reverse order to put it on.

...the lateral load from the tension of the belt on the pulley is in all likelihood greater than what miniscule force is applied tapping the fan off. Have you ever done one with a hammer? It's easy, and much better than risking a bent a screwdriver (which generally requires a lot more force). I have done both, and will never try to "pry" one off again.

you do not have to remove the fan to do the belts. put the belt down between 2 of the fan blades, hold the belt with one hand and spin the fan with the other. after you make it all the way around once it will be off. repeat in reverse order to put it on.

If you're just replacing the belt...
Really no need for a pic/vid. Just loosen the tensioner and slip the serpentine belt off, let it dangle from the waterpump and follow his simple step below >

Quote:

Originally Posted by //Maxwelljuppercut

you do not have to remove the fan to do the belts. put the belt down between 2 of the fan blades, hold the belt with one hand and spin the fan with the other. after you make it all the way around once it will be off. repeat in reverse order to put it on.

...the lateral load from the tension of the belt on the pulley is in all likelihood greater than what miniscule force is applied tapping the fan off. Have you ever done one with a hammer? It's easy, and much better than risking a bent a screwdriver (which generally requires a lot more force). I have done both, and will never try to "pry" one off again.

Physics says otherwise. The screwdriver method won't send a shock down to the WP shaft. The force applied will be smaller for a longer duration. The hammer method will apply a surprisingly large force for a very short time. If you want to do it that way, you'll probably be fine, but I just don't like wacking things unless I know they're sturdy (control arms). To me it's not worth the risk of either damaging the WP or screwing up and causing collateral damage to other parts I don't have lying around.

Maybe I should just get the actual fan clutch tool off eBay-__- this is going to be a headache

I just bought the set off ebay , I could not for the life of me figure out where to place pulley holding tool without removing hoses , etc. I ended up using long screwdriver to hold wp pulley while using 32 mm wrench. ( just put in new fan, clutch and shroud).

I just bought the set off ebay , I could not for the life of me figure out where to place pulley holding tool without removing hoses , etc. I ended up using long screwdriver to hold wp pulley while using 32 mm wrench. ( just put in new fan, clutch and shroud).

That's unfortunate. When I do mine maybe I'll make a post on it if I can figure it out.

Alright belts have been changed. Belts were bad. The only pulley I changed was the idler pulley. My power steering was leaking from the top and apparently fell into the idler pulley and ruined it. That's what it looked like to me. But the rest of pulleys and tensioners were good. And the fan did NOT have to be moved out the way! Did it from working on top and from the bottom! Easy job tho!